Our Fitness Blog

How to Make Your Trip to the Gym a Success

Many of us are trying to live healthier and lose weight for the new year. This means a lot of us are starting or returning to the gym. This may be a daunting task for some of us. We may be fitness newbies that know little or nothing about a gym but do not worry, there is always help available. I have gathered a few tips to help you get through your trip to the gym and hopefully help you maintain your motivation for the year.

Avoid the crowd

Gyms are the most crowded in January with everyone trying to stick to their resolutions. In order to get the most out of your workouts you should try to avoid the times when the gym will be the most crowded, such as right before people have to be at work, lunch time and directly after work. Mid morning, mid afternoon and after seven pm would be the least crowded times and the best time to plan your gym visit. The gym will be less crowded, and you will be able to take your time and get through your fitness routine without all the pressure.

Do not adhere to the calorie counter on the machines

The treadmill, elliptical and other cardio machines are a great way to get your heart pumping and experience a great cardio workout. However, they are notorious for overestimating your calories burned. A heart rate monitor would be your best bet to count your calories burned. It calculates the calories you burn based on your heart rate and not the averages based on the speed of the machine, so the heart rate monitor is a more precise count.

Do not be afraid to ask for help

The staff is there to help you in any way you need, but you have to find the courage to ask. If you come across a machine you do not know how to use, then it is in your best interest to ask. You do not want to skip it or go ahead and use it. You may end up using it wrong and getting an injury, which can throw a big wrench in your fitness plans. The staff at a gym may know some tips and tricks to help you achieve your goals. If you are completely clueless about the gym, you should look into getting a personal trainer. You will learn new techniques, how to use the machines and how to monitor your routines. It can be a big push on the way to achieving your goals.

Know your limits

When you begin a new fitness routine, you will get to experience all the aches and pains that come along with it. This is a normal reaction to you challenging your muscles, but you need to know the difference between pushing yourself and pushing yourself too hard. You do not want to reach too far past your limits too soon. This can cause you injuries and delay or cause you to prematurely quit your fitness routine. You should take it slowly and gradually increase your routine to avoid injuries.

The gym can be a scary place for many people; however, it is time to overcome our fears. It is all in our own perceptions, and it does not have to be scary. All we need to do is go out there and conquer our fears to help us achieve our goals. If we really want to get fit and healthy, we will have to do some hard work. We need to do our research and ask for help when we need it. It is time for us to think positively and know that we can go out there and achieve our resolutions and make our trip to the gym a success.